Where The Wild Things Are £4.93 @ TheHut [DS Games]

Having been adapted for various forms of media, from a 1980 opera to a 2009 film directed by Spike Jonze, Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are made a disappointing debut on the consoles. Although the 2D platformer was primarily aimed at kids, it’s unlikely that many would have been very excited by the game's repetitive platforming and lacklustre combat.

However the DS adaptation – put together by WayForward – manages to provide a much more interesting take on things. The game is currently up for just £4.93 at The Hut in a deal which gives you the chance to make a nice saving on the next offer which comes in at £8.91 from Asda Entertainment.

The game initially follows the same storyline as the book. After parading round the house in a cat suit and winding up his mother, Max is sent to bed with no supper (an act of child cruelty which, today, would probably land his mum in court). Then, from his bedroom, Max climbs into the imagery world of the wild things and befriends its frightening but loveable inhabitants. The game then deviates from the storybook, as Max must help the creatures to solve their various problems.

The gameplay hasn’t completely shaken off the repetitive nature which really plagued the console versions. The control system can also be quite frustrating, as both Y and X have the same multiple function, and allow the player to make Max roar to stun enemies and pick up nearby items. However trying to roar when you’re standing next to an item of interest and Max will usually try and pick it up, which can lead to some irritating moments. So while the DS version is certainly a better effort than what we’ve seen before, a few issues do bring the whole thing crashing down to Earth with depressing consistency.